CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME
A containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by a first and second immoveable structure. The containment assembly includes a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space. A flexible membrane is removably secured to the plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space. A plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to containment structures. More particularly, the invention relates to containment structures that are sealable between the floor, the ceiling and walls and are easily adjustable by extending or contracting self-locking parts so they can be adjusted to fit perfectly from floor to ceiling and/or from wall to wall to allow containment structure to be easily adapted to whatever size repair area is needed without causing damage to the finished surface of same.
2. Description of the Related Art
When buildings need to be repaired or renovated, a temporary structure may be built around the portion of the building being repaired or renovated (hereinafter referred to as a repair). The temporary structure is a containment structure that contains the debris, dust and mess that is created by performing the repair into a small location so that it does not affect or “contaminate” the rest of the room or building. This is particularly important when the repair includes the handling and removal of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and the like.
Two types of containment options are currently known to be available by persons who use containments. There are free standing containments, which are less available; and there are easily self adjustable poles that are not free standing, are not sturdy or easily movable which most companies use.
Containment structures include a skeletal structure that define temporary walls. Referring to
An issue with the use of a containment structure 10 in the prior art is that either the containment structure lacks the ability to contain the contaminants that are airborne and rise above the containment structure 10 or the containment structure 10 requires the fabrication of a ceiling (not shown). This adds to the cost of building a temporary structure and inhibits the use of the natural light that may be in the building.
Further to this issue, temporary containment structures have one of two issues. Containments built with expandable poles do not allow for easy fabrication of a ceiling, they are not sturdy nor self-standing. They cannot be easily moved without basically recreating the complete containment from scratch. They do not allow for the containment to be easily sealed to the immovable objects.
Containment systems built with non-expandable poles are self standing, but they are not expandable, so they cannot be sealed tightly to two diametrically opposed immovable objects. Also, they are difficult to disassemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by a first and second immoveable structure. The containment assembly includes a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space. A flexible membrane is removably secured to the plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space. A plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
A containment assembly is generally indicated at 40. The containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within the overall space 22, which is defined in part by first and second immovable structures. These first and second immovable structures may either be a floor 24, the walls 26, 28 and the ceiling 30. In some instances, an immovable structure may be an intermediate structure not contemplated in
The containment assembly 40 includes a plurality of incompressible links 42. The incompressible links 42 are typically PVC tubing. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that something other than PVC tubing may be used to create the plurality of incompressible links 42. The plurality of incompressible links 42 are removably secured together to divide the overall space into the uncontained space 34 and the contained space 32. One, two and three-dimensional connectors 44, 46, 48 are used to connect the incompressible links 42 together in a sealed fashion. Four and five way connectors can also be used.
A flexible membrane 50 covers the plurality of incompressible links 42 to create a wall between the contained space 32 and the uncontained space 34. The flexible membrane 50 may be a Visqueen or translucent material that is impervious to the transmission of air or particulates therethrough. In some instances, it may be desired to have the flexible membrane 50 be something other than light transparent or translucent. The flexible membrane 50 is secured to the plurality of incompressible links 42 by wrapping the flexible membrane 50 over a portion of the incompressible links 42 and securing the flexible membrane 50 either to itself or to one of the structures within the overall space 22. Typically, the flexible membrane 50 is adhered to itself or the walls 26, 28 the floor 24 or the ceiling 30 using a spray adhesive or tape.
The containment assembly also includes a plurality of compressible links 52. Each of the plurality of compressible links 52 is operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained 32 and uncontained 34 spaces. More specifically, the compressible links 52 are used to create a tension within the containment assembly 40 between at least two of the immovable structures within the overall space 22. As stated above, in the example shown in
The plurality of compressible links 52 are schematically shown in
By having a containment assembly 40 that is compressible between the two immovable structures within the building 20, the containment assembly 40 enhances the ability to contain the space 32 while reducing the amount of time need to fabricate the containment assembly 40. Furthermore, without expandable poles, it was previously impossible to create a compression “air tight” fitting between two opposing immovable structures with a solid frame (PVC) containment structure because once you inserted the last incompressible link into the last coupler and slid them together, you would be effectually shrinking the containment structure away from one or more of the opposing immovable structures. This is why the less stable, slower, non-movable expansion pole containment system has become vastly more popular that the solid frame containment system.
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The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A containment assembly for creating a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by first and second immovable structures, said containment assembly comprising:
- a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space;
- a flexible membrane removably secured to said plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space; and
- a plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
2. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an adhesive to secure said flexible membrane to itself over said plurality of incompressible and compressible links.
3. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of incompressible links is a tube fabricated from polyvinylchloride (PVC).
4. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said PVC tubes includes an end with two compression slits therein to facilitate the separation of one incompressible link from another.
5. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible spacer disposed between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures to create a seal between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures.
6. A containment assembly for creating a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by first and second immovable structures, said containment assembly comprising:
- a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space;
- a flexible membrane removably secured to said plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space; and
- a plurality of locking devices, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
7. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of locking devices is disposed between two of the plurality of incompressible links.
8. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 7 including an adhesive to secure said flexible membrane to itself over said plurality of incompressible and compressible links.
9. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of incompressible links is a tube fabricated from polyvinylchloride (PVC).
10. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said PVC tubes includes an end with two compression slits therein to facilitate the separation of one incompressible link from another.
11. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a flexible spacer disposed between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures to create a seal between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures.
12. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 7 including an elongated C-shaped sleeve engagable with said plurality of plurality of incompressible links to secure said flexible membrane to said plurality of incompressible links.
13. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of locking devices includes a twisting locking mechanism to lock one of said plurality of incompressible links to another of said plurality of incompressible links.
14. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said twisting locking mechanism includes a ramp positioned coaxial with said plurality of incompressible links to which said twisting locking mechanism is attached.
15. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said twisting locking mechanism includes a protrusion extending radially inwardly to ride along said ramp to create a friction lock between each of said plurality of incompressible links to which said twisting locking mechanism is attached.
16. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said twisting locking mechanism is fixedly secured to one of said plurality of incompressible links and allows another of said incompressible links to move relative therethrough in a telescoping manner.
17. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said each of said plurality of locking devices includes a cam surface to create a friction fit between one of said plurality of incompressible links with respect to another telescoping therethrough.
18. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of locking devices includes a handle fixedly secured to and extending out from said cam surface to rotate said cam surface about an axis to create or remove a friction locking force relative to said plurality of incompressible springs.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2014
Inventors: Jason E. Rhines (Livonia, MI), William H. Jahns (Livonia, MI)
Application Number: 13/783,256
International Classification: E04B 2/72 (20060101);